A file photo of Air France planes parked on the tarmac at the Charles de Gaulle International Airport in Roissy, near Paris. Photo: Reuters

Vietnamese travel companies are worried that many tourists will cancel their European trips in the wake of terror attacks across Paris on Friday, local media reported.

Phan Dinh Hue, director of Ho Chi Minh City-based Viet Circle, told news website Saigon Times Online that even though the attacks took place in France, tourists will likely drop their plans for other European countries.

Hue said his company expects cancellations for tours to Italy, France, and Sweden planned for the New Year holiday.

Dang Trung Nghia, deputy CEO of Ho Chi Minh City-based Fiditour, also said it has contacted airlines to ask for help, in case tourists cancel their bookings.

Many travel companies, which have tours to the EU in the New Year and Lunar New Year holidays fully booked with hundreds of customers, said they are keeping a close watch on the situation.

Safe now

Nguyen Quoc Ky, CEO of Vietravel, told Saigon Times Online that 300 Vietnamese tourists with his company were in Europe when the attacks happened, but all of them, including two groups in Paris, were safe.

Vo Anh Tai, CEO of Saigontourist, also confirmed that all of its tourists in Paris were safe, and that one of the two travel groups will head to Belgium on Saturday and the other will return to Vietnam soon.

Speaking to the Vietnam News Agency about the possibility that France will close its airports, Pham Ngoc Minh, CEO of Vietnam Airlines, said it will protect the right of passengers. The carrier operates 10 flights to France every week,

Right after blasts and gunfires that happened across Paris, French President Francois Hollande declared a state of emergency, meaning borders would be closed.

But soon after that its foreign ministry said airports in France will remain open and that flights and rail services will continue, with enhanced security measures.